CyberConnect2 did something weird in 2016. They actually finished a story. Most anime games just sort of trail off or wait for the next season of the show to catch up, but Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 felt like a definitive punctuation mark. It was loud. It was flashy. It was, honestly, a bit of a mess in the competitive scene, but it captured the sheer scale of the Fourth Great Ninja War better than the anime itself did in some places.
People still play this. Nearly a decade later, you can hop onto a server and get absolutely decimated by someone who has mastered the art of "leader swapping." It’s rare for a licensed fighter to have that kind of shelf life. Usually, these games are "churn and burn" titles meant to capitalize on a hype cycle. But Storm 4 stuck. It’s the peak of the series, and despite Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections trying to take the crown recently, fans keep coming back to the 2016 classic.
The Visual Spectacle That Put the Anime to Shame
There’s a specific moment in the boss fight between Kakashi and Obito that everyone remembers. If you’ve played the campaign, you know the one. It’s not just about hitting buttons; the game seamlessly transitions from the current fight to flashbacks of them sparring as kids. It’s fluid. It’s emotional. It’s something the TV show struggled to do without feeling like filler. CyberConnect2 used a cinematic style that basically redefined what "cell-shading" could look like.
They didn't just copy the drawing style. They enhanced it. The particle effects—sparks flying off a kunai, the blue swirl of a Rasengan, the way clothes get tattered as the health bar drops—it all adds a layer of weight. Most games in this genre feel like toys hitting each other. Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 feels like a high-budget movie where you happen to be holding the controller.
The scale is also just ridiculous. You go from a standard one-on-one fight to controlling a mountain-sized avatar like Kurama or a Susano'o. Managing that transition without the engine exploding is a feat of engineering that a lot of modern games still fail to replicate. It’s not perfect, though. Sometimes the camera gets stuck behind a giant wooden golem’s leg, and you’re just hitting the Circle button praying for a hit marker. But when it works? It’s unmatched.
Combat Depth or Just Button Mashing?
Honestly, both. That is the secret sauce. You can give a controller to someone who has never played a video game, tell them to mash one button, and they will see something cool happen. That’s the "casual" appeal. But the "pro" layer is where things get sweaty.
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The introduction of the Leader Swap system changed everything. In previous Storm games, your support characters were just that—supports. They’d jump in, throw a fireball, and leave. In Storm 4, you can switch to them mid-combo. This opened up a rabbit hole of tactical complexity. You can start a combo with Naruto, switch to Sasuke to keep the pressure on, and then swap to Sakura to finish it off while the opponent's substitute gauge is empty.
It’s a game of resource management. You have four "Substitutions." Use them too fast, and you’re a sitting duck. A lot of high-level play isn't even about attacking; it's about baiting the other person into wasting their subs. It’s psychological. It's mean. It's exactly what a ninja fight should feel like.
The Roster Problem
The roster is massive. Over 100 characters. But let’s be real for a second—a lot of them are just different versions of the same guy. You’ve got "Early Shippuden" Naruto, "Sage Mode" Naruto, "Six Paths" Naruto... you get the idea. While it’s cool for fans to pick their favorite era, it does lead to some balance issues.
Some characters are just objectively better. If you’re playing against a high-tier Minato or a Sarada (the pre-order version), you’re going to have a bad time. The community has spent years complaining about "dash cancels" and "infinite combos," yet that’s also what keeps the competitive scene alive. There’s always some new, slightly broken tech to learn.
Why the "Road to Boruto" Expansion Was Necessary
When the game first launched, it ended with the conclusion of the Naruto manga. It was a solid ending. But then the Boruto movie happened, and suddenly there was a whole new generation of kids to sell. The Road to Boruto expansion wasn't just a cash grab; it added a significant chunk of content and a whole new map area.
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It gave us the scientific ninja tools and a look at the leaf village in the "modern" era. More importantly, it added Momoshiki and Kinshiki fights which were some of the most visually taxing (in a good way) encounters in the series. It bridged the gap. It turned a "Naruto" game into a "Naruto Franchise" game.
The Technical Reality in 2026
If you’re picking this up today on a modern PC or a PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X, it looks great, but you’ll notice the 30FPS cap on the original versions. That’s the big sticking point. While the PC version can be modded and some later updates improved things, the core engine was built for an older generation.
Netcode is the other elephant in the room. It’s delay-based. If you’re playing someone halfway across the world, it’s going to feel like playing underwater. It’s a shame because a game this fast-paced really needs rollback netcode. Despite that, the community is so dedicated that they just... deal with it. They learn the timing of the lag. That’s true dedication.
Common Misconceptions About Storm 4
A lot of people think this is just a "fighting game." It’s not. Not really. It’s an "Arena Brawler." If you go into this expecting Street Fighter or Tekken levels of frame data and hitboxes, you’ll be disappointed. This is about positioning and movement.
Another myth is that you need to have watched all 700+ episodes of the anime to enjoy it. You don't. The Story Mode actually does a decent job of explaining the stakes, though it does skip over some of the smaller character beats to get to the giant explosions. If anything, the game is a "greatest hits" reel of the war arc.
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Practical Tips for New Players
If you're just starting out in 2026, don't jump straight into ranked matches. You will get crushed by people who have been playing since the Obama administration.
- Master the Ninja Move: Don't just run. Jumping and dashing sideways is the only way to avoid projectiles without burning your subs.
- Cancel Your Dashes: If you're flying at an opponent and they block, hit the jump button or guard to stop. Don't just bounce off them; that leaves you wide open.
- Learn the "Chakra Dash" Cancel: This is the bread and butter of combos. You hit the dash buttons mid-combo to reset your animations and keep hitting.
- Don't Waste Your Ultimate: Most beginners try to fire off their Secret Technique immediately. Big mistake. Save it for when the opponent has zero substitutions left.
The Verdict on the Legacy
Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 isn't just a game; it's a museum of the series. It holds up because CyberConnect2 prioritized "feeling" over "balance." It feels like being a ninja. It feels like having god-like powers.
Even with newer titles on the market, the weight of the hits and the cinematic flair of the QTEs (Quick Time Events) in Storm 4 haven't been topped. Most developers treat QTEs as a chore. Here, they are a reward. They are the payoff for a hard-fought battle.
If you want the best version of the Naruto story in interactive form, this is it. Period.
Next Steps for Players:
- Complete the Story Mode first: This unlocks several key characters and helps you get a feel for the different playstyles (Giant awakening vs. standard).
- Check the DLC status: Ensure you have the "Road to Boruto" pack, as many online players use characters exclusive to that expansion.
- Practice Leader Swapping: Go into training mode and practice switching characters in the middle of a ground combo. It’s the single most important skill for moving from "casual" to "intermediate" play.
- Adjust Network Settings: If playing on PC, look into community patches or optimization guides to ensure the most stable connection possible for online play.